Apparatus for signaling from graves.



No. 666,605. Patented lan. 22, |90I.

M. E. GRIFFITH' APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING FRUM GRAVES,

(Applicntiun led Mar. 8, 1900.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 666,665. Patented 1an. 22, |9ol. M. E. GmFFI-TH.

APPARATUS FUR SIGNALING FROM GRAVES.

y (Application med Mu. 8,1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES MONROE PATENT Ormes.

GRIFFITH, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING FROM GRAVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,605, dated January22, 1901.

Y Application tiled March 8, 1900. eral No. 7,884. KNO model.)

To a/ZZ whom, i? may concern:

Be it known that I, MONROE E. GRIFFITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing atSiouX City, in the county of Woodbury and State ofIowa, have invented new and useful Improvementsin ApparatusforSignalingfrom Graves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for signaling from graves, the objectsof thesame being to provide means for promptly indicating or announcingany disturbance of the grave, vault, or of the body previous to burial,to provide means for automatically sending in a signal to a centraloffice in the event of a slight movement of the extremities ofthe bodyafter a seeming cessation of life, and to provide means whereby visualindications will be made of any tampering with the grave, whether inquest ofthe cadaver or for the purpose of carrying off the body with aView to reward.'

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a supplyof fresh air may be furnished to a revivitied person Within a grave andmeans whereby openings in the coffin and the box in which it is inclosedmay be automatically covered when the airsup ply conduit is removed.

Other objects and advantages of the-invention will hereinafterappear,andthe novel features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure lis asectional elevation illustrative of my invention, certain of the partsbeing slightly removed from those With which they cooperate to moreclearly show the construction thereof. Fig. 2 is a similar view of theconduit and one end of the coffin, on an enlarged scale, showing theparts in their assembled operative positions. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe upper end of the conduit leading into the coffin. Fig. 4 is across-section on the linea 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view ofthe lower end of the conduit leading into the coffin. Fig. 6 is a topplan view of one end of the coffin, showing the out-off slide for theopening therein in its open position. Fig. 7 is a similar view of theunder side of the lid of the box in which the coffin is inclosed. Fig. Sis a detail perspective View of the interior of the cofiin. Fig. 9 is alongitudinal sectional view of the coupling or protecting device for theconnection between the main and branch circuit wires. Fig. l0 is across-section of the same, and Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showingthe circuit connections between an annunciator and an alarm at a centralstation and a plurality of graves. Like reference-numerals indicate likeparts in the different views. The coffin 1 may be of any suitable forand construction, the samebeing provided with a lid 2, having an opening3 at one point therein and inclosed within the usual box or casing 4,having a lid or cover 5. Secured to the upper side of the coflin-lid 2is a box or stem 6, consisting of an outer metallic sleeve 7, secured byscrews or otherwise to the lid 2, and an inner sleeve 8, of porcelain orother suitable insulating material. Secured to the outside of the sleeve7 is a vertical projecting centering-rib 9,7held in place upon thesleeve 7 by lead rivets or break-pins l0, the said rivets or pins beingprovided for the purpose of enabling said rib to be stripped from thesleeve 7 without breakage or mutilation of the other parts of thecoflin. Adjacent to the upper surface of the lid 2 the stem 6 isprovided with a horizontal recess 11, in which is adapted to move thecut-off slide 12 for controlling the passage through the opening' 3.

The said cut-off slide is disk shape in form and is pivoted at 13 to thelid 2. It is acted upon by a spring I4, which tends to normally urge thesame into its closing position .over the opening 3. It is, however,adapted to be retained in its open position, as shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings, byadetent-spring 15, which is secured at one end in a recess16 in the lid 2 and has a shoulder 17, which projects above the surfaceof said lid and within the path of movement of the slide 12. When in itsopen position, said slide engages the shoulder 17 and is retained inthis position until the spring l5 is depressed. The box-lid 5 isprovided With a circular opening I8 in line with the stem 6 on the lid2, which opening 18 is controlled by a cut-oli' slide 19, pivoted to theunder side of said lid 5 and acted upon by a spring 20, which tends tourge the same into its closing position. A stop 2l limits the movementof the slide 19 in one direction. When said slide is engaged with saidstop, it covers the opening 18, preventing the ingress IOO of anyforeign matter to the inside of the box 4 and of the coffin 1.

In the upper end of the sleeve 8, which constitutes a part of the stem 6on the coffin-lid 2, are a pair of segmental contacts 22 23, the formerof which is connected by the wire 24 with the switch-contact 25 and thelatter of which is connected through the wire 26 with the switch-lever27. The free end of the switch-lever 27 has connected to it a cord 28,which leads through eyes or guides 29 29, secured to the inside of thecoffin 1, and is divided and connected to the arms and feet of the bodyin said coffin. By this construction any movement of the extremities ofthe body due toa reviviication of the same will shift the switch-lever27 until it is brought into engagement with the contact 25, when 4thecircuit between the wires 24 and 26 will be closed through and by theswitch. Leading from the wire 24 is a wire 30, which is connected to aplurality of contact-springs- 31 31, arranged at suitable points alongthe bottom of the coffin 1 and coperating with contacts 32 32, which areconnected through the wire 33 with the wire 26 or the switch -lever 27.When the body is placed in the coffin 1, the springs 31 are depressedinto recesses in the bottom of the coffin and held out of engagementwith the contacts 32, with whichl they respectively coperate. If,however, the body be 'lifted from the coffin in any way and for anypurpose, the springs 31 will be raised and broughtinto engagement withthe contacts 32 and the circuit between the wires 24 and 26 and thecontacts 22 and 23 will be closed through one or more ofsaid Asprings.31 and said contacts 32.

Fitting around the stem 6 on the coffin-lid 2 and resting upon said lidis a tubular conduit 34the saine being provided on its inside, adjacentto its lower end, with a vertical groove 35, adapted to receive-the rib9 on the sleeve 7 for the purpose of properly centering said conduit onsaid stem. Adjacent to the lower end of said conduit is a cylindricalinsulating-block 36, having a central passage 37 therein and providedwith contacts 38 39, adapted to engage the contacts 22 and 23,respectively, on the sleeve 8. The upper ends of the contacts 38 and 39have secured to them the insulated conducting-wires 40 and 41, the upperends of said vwires being connected to snap-hooks 42 43 on device at acentral station-such as the houseor ofce of the sexton of the cemetery,a police-station, or the like-and the wire 50 is connected with a linewire 52, as clearly shown. The connection between the wires 50 and 52 iseffected, preferably, by winding the former upon the latter andinclosing the joint thusv made in a coupling-piece or pro tector 53,made entirely of glass, the same comprising two semispool-shaped members54 55, one of which is provided with an opening 56 for the passage ofthe wire 50 to the chamber on the inside thereof and with lateralprojections or pins 57 at its opposite ends and the other of which isprovided with holes 58 for receiving the pins 57. The two menibers aresecured together by welding, this being effected, preferably, bydirecting fiame to the projecting ends of the pins 57 in the holes 58,and thereby upsetting or heading up the ends of said pins. In this wayshould any one attempt to disconnect the wires 50 and 52 one from theother it would be necessary to break the protector 53 or otherwiseinjure the same, and a visual indication of the fact that the device hadbeen tampered with would be given to the proper attendant of thecemetery.

The upper end of the conduit 34 is provided with screw-threads adaptedfor the attachment of a cap or cover consisting of a sleeve 59 and ahood 60, secured to the npper end of said sleeve by means of bracketarms61, which provide a space between the sleeve 59 and the hood 60 for theentrance of air to the conduit 34. The upper end of the sleeve 59 iscovered by a strip 62, of wiregauze or other like material, providedt'or the purpose of preventing the entrance of extraneous matter to theconduit 34, and beneath said wire-gauze is adapted to be placed a spongecontaining suitable disinfecting or other material for thepurpose ofpreventing the escape of obnoxious gases from the coiiin through theconduit 34 or for other purposes. The sleeve 59 is secured to theconduit 34 by means of the hasp 63, staples 64 65, and the lock 66. Thelock 66 is preferably a seallock and is provided for the purpose ofpreventing the disconnection of the sleeve 59 and the hood 60 from theconduit 34 without detection.

The contacts 38 and 39 heretofore referred to are mounted in sockets orrecesses in the block 36 and are provided with stems 67 68,

' to which the conducting-wires 40 and 41 are respectively connected..The said contacts are also acted upon by the springs 69 70, which serveto hold the said contacts in engagement `with the contacts 22 23,respectively, even .though the conduit 34 does not lie exactly atopeningin the block 36 and engages the upper surface of the sleeve 8.Then the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thefree end of the spring 71 is held in IOO IIO

its elevated position away from the contact 72 by reason of the factthat the pin or projection 73 rests upon the sleeve 8of the stem 6. If,however, the conduit 34 should be forcibly removed or elevated, the pin73 would move out of engagement with the sleeve 8 and the spring-arm 71would be free to move downwardly into engagement with the contact 72.When this takes place, the circuit would be closed between the wires 40and 41 by way of the stem 67, spring-arm 71, contact 72, and stem 68 andan alarm would be sent in to the central station.

When the conduit 34 is first inserted into place, the cut-off slide 19on the box-lid 5 is moved back into the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 7 of the drawings and said conduit fits within the opening 18 insaid box-lid. The cut-off slide 19 is also held in its open position byits engagement with the side of said conduit. Said conduit in itsfurther downward movement into the box 4 is fitted upon the stem 7, andthe lower end thereof comes in Contact with the free end of the spring15. Said spring is thereby depressed and the cutoff slide 12 released.The movement of said slide 12, however, toward its closing position ischecked by its engagement. with the side of the conduit 34. Furthermovement of said slide is therefore prevented until the conduit 34 iselevated. When this is done, it is free to move to its closing positionover the openin'g 3, and it does so move to such position through theaction of the spring 14. The slide 19 is also closed through the actionof its spring 20 as soon as the conduit 34 is lifted out of the box 4.It will thus be seen that as soon as the connection between the conduit34 and the inside of the coffin 1 is broken the openings in the box-lid5 and in the coffin-lid 2 will both be automatically closed, and therebyprevent the entrance into the coffin of any dirt or other foreignmatter.

It will be observed that a normally open circuit. is employed and thatwhen said circuit is closed at any of the different points abovereferred to a signal will be sent in to the central station, indicatingeither a movement of the body within the coffin or a tampering with thegrave by an unauthorized person.

In Fig. 11 of the drawings I have shown, diagrammatieally, the circuitconnections such as will be used in a system where a number of differentgraves are connected up with a signaling device at a central station. Inthis figure the main line-wire 52 is connected with the battery 74, thebell 75, and the annu nciator 76, all being of any suitable form orconstruc- Lion. One of the wires 50 50n from each grave 77 78 isconnected with the line-wire 52, while the other wires 49 and 49 lead,respectively, from the graves 77 78 t0 different drops of theannunciator 76. In this way when the circuit is closed in any one of thegraves the bell or alarm 75 will be actuated, and the drop of thedrawings.

the annunciator 76 corresponding with said grave will also be actuated,indicating to the attendant at which grave the trouble exists. I haveheretofore referred to the contacts 22 and 23 on the sleeve 8 as beingsegmental in form. This construction is provided for the purpose ofclosing the circuit through the signaling device at the central officein the event that the conduit 34 is twisted through the agency ofpipe-tongs or the like, so that the rib 9 on the sleeve 7 is strippedoff, each of the contacts 22 and 23 being of sufcient width to bridgethe circuit between the contacts 38 and 39, as will be readilyunderstood. I have also described the stem 6, surrounding the opening 3,as being located on the upper side of the coffin-lid 2, adjacent to thehead thereof. It is obvious that this stem may be located at any othersuitable point, and, indeed, it may be desirable to locate it elsewherethan as shown, as the window in the coffin-lid may be obstructed by saidstem and the parts coperating therewith if located at the point shown inthe drawings. I therefore do not limit myself to the exact location andarrangement of the stem 6 and the parts cooperating therewith, nor do Ilimit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of the otherparts herein shown and described, except as defined by the claims, asmany minor changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthe nature or spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages. It will be noted that the cord 28, leading from theswitch-lever 24, passes first. through the eye or guide 29, thence tothe eye or guide 29a, and back, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of Adjacentto the eye 29 the cord 28 has the branches 79 79 leading therefrom,which are connected to the wrists of the body in the coffin. Adjacent tothe eye or guide 292L branches 8O 8O lead off and are connected to theankles of the body in the coffin. Similar branches 81 8l lead from thelower part of the cord 28 to the wrists of the body. By thisconstruction it will be observed that a movement of the arms eithertoward the head or feet of the body will serve to move the switch-arm 27and close the circuit and that a movement of the feet toward the head ofthe body will have a similar effect. It will also be observed that whenthe circuit has once been closed by the actuation of the switch-arm 27it cannot be opened by any movement of the body in the coffin.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a signaling apparatus for graves, a stationary bottom,contact-springs arranged at intervals along the bottom secured at oneend to the upper side thereof extending across the same and having theirother ends free but adapted to be depressed by the weight of the bodythereon, contacts above the free ends of said springs adapted to beengaged thereby IOO IIO

when the body is elevated, and a normally open circuit including saidsprings and contacts.

2. In signaling apparatus for graves, a cofiin having an openingtherein, a stem surrounding said opening, a cut-olf slide for saidopening pivoted to said coliin, a detent for said slide, a spring fornormally urging said slide to its closing position, and a conduitfitting upon said stem and adapted, when inserted into position, torelease said detent and retain said slide in its open position, wherebywhen said conduit is removed, said slide will be free to close theopening in said coffin.

3. In signaling apparatus for graves, a coflin having an opening in thelid thereof, an upwardly-projecting stem surrounding said opening andprovided with a recess adjacent to said lid, a cut-oft' slide for saidopening adapted to fit Within said recess, a detentspring fitting withina recess in said lid and adapted to hold said slide in its openposition, an actuating-spring tor said slide, and a conduit adapted,when inserted into position, to depress said detent-spring,release thesame from its engagement with said slide, and hold said slidein its openposition, Wherelby when said conduit is raised, said slide will be freeto move into saidl recess and close the opening in said lid.

4. In signaling apparatus for graves, va coffin having an openingtherein, a stein surrounding said openin g, contacts onsaid stem, aconduit surrounding said stemfand having contacts therein adapted toengage the-contacts on said stem, and a normally open circuit includingsaid contacts and adapted to be closed by a movement of the body withinthe coin.

5. In signaling apparatus for graves, a cofn having an opening therein,a stem surrounding said opening, segmental contacts on said stem, aconduit surrounding said stem, contacts carried by said conduit andadapted to engage the segmental contacts on said stem, and a normallyopen circuit including the contacts on said conduit and these on saidstein, the said circuit being adapted to be closed by a movement of thebody within said coffin and further adapted to be closed between thecontacts on said conduit when the latter is turned so as to cause one ofthe contacts on said stem to bridge the circuit between the contacts onsaid conduit.

6. In signaling apparatus for graves, a cofin having an opening therein,a stem surrounding said opening, contacts on said stem, a cond uitsurrounding said stem, movable contacts thereon, springs adapted toengage said movable contacts for holding the same in engagement with thecontacts on said stem, and a normally open circuit including saidcontacts and adapted to be closed by a movement of the body Vwithin saidcoffin.

7. In signaling apparatus for graves, a cotin having an opening therein,a stem surrounding said opening, contacts on said stem, a conduitsurrounding said stem, contacts carried by said conduit and adapted toengage the contacts on said stem, a sprin-g-arm on one of the contactsin said conduit, a lug on the other adapted to be engaged by said arm, aprojection on said arm adapted to normally engage said stem and holdsaid arm out of engagement with said lug, and a normally open circuitinluding said contacts, the said circuit being adapted to be closed byamovement ofthe body Wi thin said cofn and also adapted to be closedthrough said spring-arm when said conduit is lifted oft said coffin, andsaid projection is moved out of engagement with said stem.

8. In signaling apparatus for graves, a coffin having an opening in thelid thereof, an upwardly-projecting stem surrounding said opening andconsisting of an outer metallic sleeve and an inner sleeve of insulatingmaterial, a projecting rib on said outer sleeve secured thereto bybreak-pins, contacts secured to the upper end of the insulating-sleeveof said stem, a conduit surrounding said stem and provided with a grooveadapted to receive said rib, an insulating block in sai'd conduit,movable contacts mounted in sockets in said block and adapted to engagethe contacts on the insu lating-sleeve of said stem, springs formaintaining close engagement between said contacts, and a normally opencircuit including said contacts adapted to be closed by a movement ot'the body within said coffin.

9. In signaling apparatus for graves, a normally open circuit leading toa signaling device, a switch controlling said circuit, a cord connectedto a movable part of said switch for closing said circuit and passingthrough guides on the inside of the cofn, branches leading fromdifferent parts of said cord and connected with the wrists of the bodyin the cottin and similar branches leading from said cord and connectedwith the ankles of the body, whereby upon an upward movement of thefeet, or a movement in either direction of the hands, said circuit willbe closed at said switch through and by said cord.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

MONROE E. GRIFFITH.

Witnesses:

Unas. W. BLAGG, C. W. TAYLOR.

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